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| Russell Brand (Image via RottenTomatoes.com) |
While many celebrities battle addiction with a public sometimes only hearing about their problem after they are deceased, some like Russell Brand do come forward and share their insights. Tuesday,
Russell Brand told the British government his thoughts and feelings on addiction. As a former heroin addict that has been arrested numerous times, Brand stated that addiction should not be treated as a criminal issue but as an illness.
Citing psychological, spiritual and emotional problems as the cause for his own addiction, Brand pressed the issue that once a person is an addict the “status” of the drug is irrelevant to the user and that the only real help is “abstinence-based treatments” for addicts. "If you have the illness or disease of addiction or alcoholism, the best way to tackle it is not use drugs in any form whether it's state-sponsored opus like methadone or illegal street drugs," Brand said.
Whether you're a fan of Russell Brand
or not it is very hard to argue the logic behind his words and the
fact that he is stepping forward to try and effect positive change
for addiction is always a good and needed thing.
Celebrities are not
obliged to come forward and tell their story, nor are they obliged to
go to the government on their own time to help with the problem of
addiction. When they use their celebrity status in a positive way, we
as a society should always be happy to listen, Kudos to Mr. Brand. We
appreciate your coming forward and sharing your personal stories and
insights. Those who have been addicted are the best ones to help find
the answers. Their perspective is a true one based on experience, and
their on going efforts to be sober are an inspiration to those hoping
to one day, be on that side of the fence again..living sober.
